Okeanos Explorer departs to Survey Deep-Sea Areas in Papahānaumokuākea

NOAA's Okeanos Explorer docked at Pearl Harbor prior to a 22-day expedition to the Monument. Credit: NOAA/OER

On February 25, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer will depart to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) to survey PMNM's deep-water habitats, which represent the largest portion of the Monument. The 22-day expedition will use the Okeanos Explorer's two-body ROV system to conduct 15 ROV dives to depths of 1,000-5,000 meters (3,280- 16,400 feet) in the NWHI, and three dives on its way to Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands.

The dives will focus on surveying locations likely to contain high-density communities of deep-sea corals and sponges, and areas of geological significance to the region. The team will also spend two days surveying potential archaeological sites of the Battle of Midway in deep waters north of PMNM.

PMNM Research Specialist Daniel Wagner will serve as the expedition's science lead and provide live commentary of all ROV dives, which will be broadcast in real time over the Internet.

To learn more and to follow the live video feed, visit the expedition's website at http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1603/welcome.html.

For highlight videos from last year's expedition, see:
http://oceantoday.noaa.gov/deepoceancorals/
http://oceantoday.noaa.gov/deepoceancreatures/

Okeanos Explorer's ROV Deep Discoverer surveys a deep-water coral assemblage at 2000 m during an expedition to PMNM in 2015. Credit: NOAA/OER